Mute for musical instruments



Oct. 16, 1951 J. A. ALTOSINO MUTE FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Filed March 2, 1948 IN VEN TOR.

Patented Oct. 16, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 18 Claims.

This invention relates to mutes for use in connection with musical instruments of the wind type preferably a comet, trumpet or trombone.

Previously mutes for metal wind instruments comprised pads or cones that were placed into the open bell end of the instrument to deaden or muflle the tone. Other mutes were in the form of a derby hat that was put over the bell of the instrument and held in place by the hand.

The main object of this improved mute is to change the vibration of the sound of each note emanating from the instrument and still keeping the instrument in tune.

It is a further object to provide an attachment for a wind instrument which will muffie or soften the tone and at the same time substantially preserving the same pitch as the open instrument without the mute.

Another object of the invention is to change the tone of the instrument without materially diminishing the volume of the sound produced by the instrument.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device for making the tone of a comet, trumpet or trombone more mellow and to blend same with other instruments in the orchestra for instance, the saxophone.

An object of one of the embodiments of the invention is to produce a harsh or shrill tone to the sound emanating from the instruments.

Having in view the main objects, the invention has among its further objects to provide a mute which:

1. Is of simple and inexpensive construction;

2. Is very light in weight so as to add very littie to the weight of the instrument to which it is connected;

3. Is not affected by dirt, water or moisture;

4. Is of rigid construction and will thereby retain its shape;

5. Is easily attached to and removable from the bell of the instrument even while the instrument is in use and without the loss of a note.

The invention possesses other objects and valuable features, some of which with those enumerated, will be set forth in the following description of the preferred embodiments of the invention illustrated in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the specification. It. is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the showing made by said drawings and description, as I may adopt variations of the preferred embodiments within the scope of my invention as defined in the claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the mute as attached to the bell of the instrument;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of Fig. 2 taken on line 3--3;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the invention.

Referring first to Fig. 1 in which I have illustrated the mute l as attached to the instrument 2. The mute is attached to the rim 4 of the bell portion of the instrument by means of the attaching means 3.

The mute may be made of fibre, felt, plastic or metal preferably aluminum. The mute is in the general form of a hollow shell open at its larger end and having sides l4. The shell has a reduced rearwardly projecting rear end terminating at the closed bottom 5. The shell flares and enlarges forwardly so that the diameter of its front end is greater than that at the closed end 5.

The front end of the mute has a top piece consisting of a rim 6 and collar I. The top piece is open at I5 and is attached to the shell by rivets, screws, spot welds or other fastening means 9. The collar 1 has a rim 8 made of rubber tubing, plastic or felt in order to cushion the mute against the bell of the instrument as shown in Fig. l. The mute is attached to the instrument by the fastening means or hooks 3 that hook onto the rim 4 of the instrument. The hooks 3 are covered with pieces of rubber tubing II in order to protect the instrument from being scratched or marred. The hooks are attached to the collar 1 by fastening means [0 which may be screws or rivets. The fasteners 3 may be of one or more in number, usually consisting of two hooks spaced a distance apart and fixed to the collar 7 by the means Ill. The arrangement of these fasteners or hooks is such that the mute can be moved to proper position at the bell end of the instrument and thereby fitting snug against the bell.

The mute fasteners 3 are such whereby they can be quickly and readily applied to and removed from the bell of the instrument even While the instrument is in use and without the loss of a note. This quick action is desirable in those instances where the instrument plays different parts of a song and the change must be almost instantaneous.

The shell has holes E2 completely around the larger end of the shell. The rim 6 has a number of holes l3. These groups of holes are for the purpose of allowing the sound to leave the mute.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of Fig. 2 and shows the inside portion of the shell. The inside of the shell may be coated with flocking. The embodiment shown in Fig. 2 has this flocking which is attached to the inside of the shell by a sticky substance as glue, shellac or sizing. The flocking eliminates the tinny sound of the mute and softens the sound of the notes produced by the instrument. The embodiment shown in Fig. 4 doesnt have flocking as the tone of the notes is to be harsh or shrill and not softened. The same numerals refer to same parts as illustrated in Fig: 2. This form of the mute has additional holes I! in the collar 1.

The mute is so shaped that itigives, out-amoie resonant note than that as would be emitted by the instrument without the use of the mute;

vibrations thereby improving the tone of the instrument.

When constructed as; hereinbefore set forth the mute'rbecomes a lGSOIldIlCGfihZJllbfil'r-lll which most of the original sound vibrationsare confined, somegof'the original sound moves together with the air escaping through the holes in the rim, collar-and sides of the mute.

The mute shown in Fig. 2 is mainly used with instruments used in dancebands or symphonic orchestras and has for its principal object to mufilezor softenthe tone produced by theinstrument;; also, makes the tone more-mellow.v and blends. the tone with other instruments-inthe band,- for instance the saxophone.

The embodiment shown in Fig. 4- isused in connection; with the type of music known as jazz andhas' as itsobject to produce a harsh or shrill tone.

Theydesirable response; or result produced by the mute-isattained according tothe present invention .byproperly coordinating, certain charac: teristicsor features of the mute.

In carrying the, invention into effect it was found that themostsatisfactoryresults for softening, muiiiing ormakingthe tone more mellow could v be obtained by constructing a mute having substantially the following dimensions. The. dimensions for the mute used in connection with acornet and trumpet differ from thosefor, a trombonemute as shown hereinafter.

Dimension Cornet and Trumpet Trombone approximately 3%. approximately li. approximately 59%.". approximatelyfi".

approximately u... .approximatelylli. approximately 4 approximately 6%". approximately W2... approximately 8%".

Dimension Cornet or Trumpet approximately 3%". approximately 1%.; approximately 3 approximately 4; approximately filz;

In. addition the mute tends to set. up sympathetic In this embodiment of the mute the reference numeral l2 refers to approximately 25 holes in the shell on the order of in diameter, reference numeral l3 refers to approximately 25 holes in the rim 6 on the order of in diameter, and reference numeral l1 refers to approximately 25 holes in the collar on the order of in diameter.

It will be understood that the manner in which the mute is constructed may be varied without departing from the principal features of the present invention, for example, the dimensions of the various parts of the mute may be lengthened or shortened or the sides I l of the shell may be made straight .orfiared.

While there has been shown and described what is:at:present considered to be the preferred embodiments of the present invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various modifications and substitutions of equivalents may be made without departing from the teachings of theinvention andthe properscope thereof and it is;v accordingly intended in the appended. claims to cover all, such. changes and. modifications as fall, within the, true scope vvof the Q invention and outside of the scopeof the prior art. J

Having. thus ,described my. invention, I .claim:

1; A .metal jazz, mute preferably aluminum for attachment 'toetheoutervrim of thebellof a, wind instrument comprising ahollow shell closed at one endandj open at the other end, said shell having holes in the sides atithe open end, a top memberattachedfltusaid shellat the. open end thereof and having a rim andjcollar both of which haveholes therein, said collar having rubber tubingon its outeredge, and rubbericovered fasteners attached to said collar by rivets.

2. A mute for musical instruments comprising a casing in the form of a hollow; shellclosedj at one end and open at the other end. a top member attached to said open end of said shell having. a rim which fitssnugly against the open portion of the-bell of 'an instrument and which is held in place by fastening means and abutment of the rim against the inside of said bell of the instrument; 7

3; A'mutefor-a musical instrument, comprisinga casing in-the form'of a hollow shell provided ,w.ith hook fastening means for removably attaching said mute to the bell of the instrument, said casing-having a; top member consisting of a rim and collar-and'said collar fitting snugly all around the;op;en, end of the bell and abuttin same, said-casing having holes at its larger end, and said rim also having holes for theemission of sound waves from the mute. I

4. An aluminum mute for attachment to awind instrument-comprising a shell and top member, said shell being closed at one end andhaving fiaredsides, thetop member including arim and collar, said collar being fixedly secured to theopen end of the bell of the instrument in-wedgingengagement andhaving a plurality of hooks for holding said collar snugly in place in said bell.

5. An aluminum mute according toclaim 4, wherein said shell has holes at its open end and said rim also has-holes around its circumference for the emission'of sound waves.

6; An aluminum mute for attachment to a'wind instrument comprising a shell, said shell having a closed end and 'an-open end, a top member attached thereto, saidtop member including a'rim and a collar; said'collarfitting snugly against the open bell ."ofthe. instrument and being fixedly secured-.iby. one or more;.hooks;; said collar havin a resilient covering so that it .willhavewedging engagement with saidLbeII .of:the; instrument...

'7. A mute for a wind instrument according to claim 6, characterized by said shell and said rim of the top member having holes in their sides for egress of sound waves from the mute.

8. A mute for a wind instrument comprising a shell having a closed end and an open end, said shell having flared sides with the open end having the greatest diameter, said shell having openings around its circumference at the open end, a top member comprising a rim and a collar, said rim having holes in its circumference and said collar having a rubber tubing around its outer rim whereby said outer rim fits snugly against the open bell of the instrument in wedging engagement and having one or more hooks for holding said mute onto the rim of the bell.

9. A mute according to claim 8 wherein said hooks are covered with rubber tubing so as to hold said mute tightly against said bell and not to mar the finish of the bell.

10. A mute for a wind instrument comprising a shell and top member, said shell having a closed bottom and said top member being fastened to the open end of said shell by rivets, said shell having flared sides and holes in its circumference at the open end, said top member comprising a rim having holes around its circumference and including a collar also having holes in its circumference, said collar having fastening means for attaching the mute snugly against the open bell of the instrument, said collar having its outer edge covered by a rubber tubing for wedging engagement with the opening of the bell.

11. A mute for a wind instrument according to claim 8, characterized in that said top member is fastened to the open end of said shell by spot welds.

12. An aluminum mute for a wind instrument comprising a shell having flared sides and a closed end, a top member attached to the open end of said shell and comprising a rim and a collar, said collar having a resilient means over its outer edge for wedging engagement with the open end of the bell and having one or more hooks for fastening said mute to the edge of said bell.

13. An aluminum mute for a wind instrument according to claim 12, characterized in that said shell and rim has openings for the egress of sound waves.

14. An aluminum mute for a wind instrument comprising a shell having flared sides and a closed end, a top member attached to the open end of said shell and comprising a rim and a collar, said collar having a rubber gasket over its outer edge for wedging engagement with the open end of the bell and having hooks covered with resilient means for fastening said mute to the outer edge of said bell, and including flocking on the inside of said shell for mufiling the tone.

15. A mute for use with a wind instrument comprising a body member having one end closed and at its open end a member being rigidly attached thereto and including a rim and a collar, said collar having hooks for attachment to the rim of the bell of an instrument and having a rubber gasket around its outer edge for wedging 6 the collar to the open end of the bell of the instrument together with said hooks for securely holding said mute in place, said body and said rim both having holes in their surfaces for emitting sound waves.

16. A mute for use with a wind instrument comprising a hollow shell closed at one end and having holes around the sides adjacent its open end, a top member fixedly attached to said shell at its open end and including a rim with holes therein and a collar, hooks attached to said collar for attaching said mute to the edge of the bell of the instrument, said collar fitting tightly all around the inside circumference of the outer edge of the bell holding said mute tight against said bell, and flocking on the inside of said shell for mufiling the sound waves.

17. A metal mute for attachment to the outer edge of the bell of a wind instrument comprising a hollow shell closed at one end and open at the other end, said shell having holes in its sides adjacent the open end, a top member attached to said shell at its open end and including a rim with holes around the circumference and a collar, said collar having a rubber tubing on its outer edge, rubber covered hooks fastened to said collar whereby said hooks fasten the mute to the outer edge of the bell of the instrument and said rubber covered collar fitting tightly all around the edge of the bell so that no sound waves may emit between said collar and bell, there being flocking on the inside walls of said shell for muffling the tone.

18. A mute for attachment to the outer edge of the bell of a wind instrument comprising a hollow shell closed at one end and open at the other end, said shell having holes in its sides circumferentially spaced around the shell adjacent its open end, a top member attached to said shell and comprising a rim and collar having a rubber gasket around its outer edge, said rim and collar having holes spaced around their circumferences, the holes in the shell, rim and collar being for the egress of sound waves, fasteners attached to said collar for hanging said mute onto the edge of the open end of the bell of the instrument, said rubber gasket fitting snugly against the edge of the bell and holding said mute fixedly secure to said instrument.

JOHN A. ALTOSINO.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 906,388 Cobb Dec. 8, 1908 1,045,700 Greenwood Nov. 26, 1912 1,301,147 Magin Apr. 22, 1919 1,547,900 Chiafi'arelli July 28, 1925 2,318,535 Spivak May 4, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 288,435 Great Britain Apr. 12, 1928 

